What I love most about my home is the people I share it with...

Well, let's see what all has happened since the last time I posted.  Saturday, Nick and I had a day where neither of us had to work.  It was so nice!  Nick did a few things around the house that have needed to be done for a while now and I took care of River and also mowed.  Saturday night we went to Waco to eat at Red Lobster with my parents to celebrate Brian's 31st birthday.  

Then, on Sunday, Nick's dad was installed as an elder at LaPoynor Church of Christ.  We attended church there on Sunday morning and then spent the rest of the day with them.  It seemed as though River's gums/teeth were hurting him.  He has been teething for a long time now, but still no teeth.  

Yesterday I had to work from 2-7, so I was able to spend the morning with River.  On most of the days that I am off, Nick comes home for lunch.  It's so nice to see him in the middle of the day and have lunch together.  River gives his Daddy the biggest smiles of anyone.  He smiles at his Daddy every time he sees him.  I am so thankful for Nick and the dad that he is to River and the relationship that they have.

This morning, the Mommy and Me group had a Thanksgiving Feast.  I went to that and it was nice.  I really enjoy the ladies in the group.  The group meets every Wednesday for a couple of hours.  Rachel takes River on the days that she has him.  

Rachel and I designed our Hoffman Family Christmas card today.  I am so excited to get them in.  The pictures Rachel took are so good.  Tonight we got down all of our Christmas decorations from the attic.  We plan to decorate tomorrow night.  I love this time of year and am looking forward to seeing River's reaction to the tree and all the lights!

Today I made River a "Tie Onesie".  I saw the idea on Pinterest and it was a link to someone's Etsy website.  They were selling it for $23.50.  I ended up making it for about $5.00.  It felt great to get my sewing machine out again.  River's nursery used to be my sewing room.  I had to move the sewing machine to the closet when we turned the room into the nursery.  It took me about 45 minutes to make it and I am so happy with the way it turned out.  I will post a picture of River wearing it after Thanksgiving.  

Things River has been doing since the last time I posted...

This morning I turned on some cartoons and he was very interested in watching it on the TV.  I think he liked the bright colors.  

Playing in his jumper and watching cartoons for the first time

 

Nick put together his high chair.  He loves to sit in it and he does really well eating his solids in it.  Nick also put together and hung the "Johnny Jump Up".  We put River in it, but he didn't really know what to think about it and didn't really know what to do.  I'm sure before long, he will really be jumping high!  

When he is on his tummy, he is really trying to pull his knees up under him and go somewhere!  When Rachel kept him yesterday, she said he was really trying to crawl.   

Thankful

November 18th:  I am thankful for pets.  Growing up I have always had a dog.  Millie was our dog when I was at home and she was part of the family.  She always protected us and was really the perfect pet.  Nick and I got Callie a few months after we were married.  She is a "pound hound" and she has been a wonderful dog.  She has been excellent with River.  Pets can brighten your day when it's been bad, let you know when someone is outside of your house, protect you, and provide an unwavering companionship.  I think River will grow up liking animals and I think that he will have a great relationship with Callie.

November 19th:  I am thankful for rain.  We got a pouring rain last night at about 3am.  I love hearing the rain hit our metal roof.  We have been in a severe drought, so any rain has been nice.  I love cloudy days and cooler weather!

November 20th:  I am thankful for nights at home with my family.  I love staying in with my 2 guys.  I am so blessed to have them!

November 21st:  I am thankful for my health.  

November 22nd:  I am thankful for the holidays.  I love getting together with family and am blessed to have 2 wonderful families. 

Love my days with River

Today was an excellent day.  I love my days off with River, especially when I have worked for a few days in a row.  He changes so much everyday!  

Here are a few things I noticed about him while we were playing today:  

Aunt Patty, Kinsey, and Kayla gave him a motorized car that travels in a wide circle.  River was sitting up and the car was going around him today.  He knew that when the car went behind him, he needed to turn his head to see it come around the other side!  This may be something so simple, but it is so fun to watch him learn new things.  

We took a trip to Wal-Mart today and I wanted to get him a cheap toy that made sounds. he is starting to outgrow the toys that we have here.  We mainly have rattles, teethers, and small toys.  He still likes them, but he does get bored with them.  Rachel has a lot of toys for him to play with at her house and I want to keep him stimulated here, too.  So today I bought him a small toy that is very bright and makes sounds. I got it out of the bag as soon as we got home and I sat him in the floor.  He played and played and played with it!  He loved it!  He wouldn't even look up when I was talking to him.  I enjoyed watching him learn how to play with the new toy. 

River's new toy

I worked a little more on my Christmas list today.  I really want to make a trip to Waco to go to Hobby Lobby and look for wrapping paper.  I always like my packages to coordinate and I love to look at them under the Christmas tree.  I am getting very excited to put up our tree!

For the first time in a while, both Nick and I are off this weekend and we have nowhere to go!  I can't remember the last time we had a weekend like this!  We are planning to get a lot of things done around the house that have needed to be done for a LONG time.  I am also looking forward to just spending time as a family.  

Thankful:

November 17th:  I am thankful for contacts and glasses.  My eyes are so bad and without contacts and glasses I wouldn't be able to see anything.  I would not be able to work, drive, or do anything but sit at home.  VERY thankful for contacts!

Happy

Well, I have been working the past few days so I haven't had a chance to write.  Work has been good this week, but I am so glad to be off.  I will get to spend the day with my little sweetie tomorrow. 

I got to see the pictures Rachel took for our Christmas card today.  They are so good and River is a doll!  I can't wait to get my Christmas cards designed and ordered, so I can start addressing.  I think I am going to cut down on the amount of Christmas cards I send out this year.  With the cost of the cards and then add the cost of the stamps, it can really get expensive.  I can't believe that Thanksgiving is already next week.  I didn't decorate for fall this year.  I just never made the time to do it (mainly because I didn't want to drag it all down from the attic!).  I plan to make up for that with my Christmas decorations.  Nick and I are planning to put the tree up next Wednesday (day before Thanksgiving), since I have to work the Friday-Sunday after Thanksgiving.  I am really looking forward to that and seeing how River reacts to the tree and all the lights.  I think he will really like it!  I have been working on my Christmas list for a while.  Now I just need to go shopping!  I have really been enjoying shopping online, especially when the shipping is free and it comes in a box that it can be wrapped in.  

Now a little bit about River:

His hair is really growing...but just on top!  Tonight after his bath, I decided to make it into a mo-hawk.  

Future Rock Star....

Or Future President?

River is really so fun and he is trying to reach and grab everything.  He was really talking tonight.  Still haven't got him to say Mama yet, but we're getting there.  He loves to say Dada.  He has been saying that for a while now.  

Just a few more pictures

Eating peas at Rachel's

Sleeping so sweet!

Today I found out that one of my friends from pharmacy school is having twins!!  I am so happy for Tandi and Joseph and I know they will be great parents.  Well, I guess that's all for tonight!  

Thankful:

November 14th:  I am thankful for water.  So many people in other countries do not have access to clean water.  

November 15th:  I am thankful for the seasons.  I don't know that I have a favorite season.  It seems like I am always ready for the next season and look forward to the change in weather.  Spring brings green grass, rain, and warmer temperatures.  Summer brings the sunshine, homemade ice cream, longer days, and Ranger games!  Fall brings changing of the leaves, football, and some cooler days (even though we are still having some 80 degree weather in November!).  And winter brings Thanksgiving and Christmas, lots of family gatherings, and good food.

November 16th:  I am thankful for the internet.  It's crazy how technology has changed in my lifetime.  I am thankful for the internet because information is readily available and I can better keep in touch with my friends and family.

Another Weekend Gone..

Well, we had another good weekend.  Friday afternoon Rachel took our annual family Christmas pictures.  I can't wait to see them.  I bought River some blue jeans for these pictures.  He looks so much older in blue jeans!  Nick had to work a project clinic in Belton on Saturday and Sunday and I had to work a flu shot clinic Saturday morning.  River stayed with Ma Ma while I worked on Saturday morning and then I went to Whitney for Saturday afternoon and night.  River and I drove back home after lunch today.  Nick stayed in Belton on Saturday night and got home mid afternoon today.  Cassie was able to come to Whitney, too to spend time at Ma Ma and Pa Pa's.  We really enjoyed getting to all spend time together.  So the weekend was good, but would have been perfect if Nick could have been with us! :)  

River is sitting up so good.  He doesn't need help anymore, but I still have to put pillows around him.  When he starts leaning he goes all the way to the floor, so he needs some cushion around him!  We fed him applesauce for the first time tonight.  We have gone through all the vegetables and now we are starting fruit.  Applesauce is his first fruit and he absolutely loved it!  He gave me a big grin after the first bite. He thought it was great!

I just want to say how much I love my family.  Nick is such a wonderful husband and my best friend.  River is such a joy and makes me smile everyday!  

Thankful continued

November 8th:  I am thankful for my friends.  I have been very fortunate to make GREAT friends everywhere I have lived (Whitney, Stephenville, Amarillo, Lubbock, and now Teague).  They have truly supported me through good times and bad.  Thank you all for loving me and for being such terrific friends!

November 9th:  I am thankful for my Church family.  Wow, what an awesome group of people.  From the very first time Nick and I stepped foot into Teague Church of Christ we have felt love and friendship.  We are so thankful for all the people there and for how they have taken us in.  It is also awesome to see how much they love River.  

November 10th:  I am thankful for my job.  I am so blessed to be able to work 30 hours a week now that I have River.  I work with some great people and I really enjoy them.  I am very thankful for my boss, Greg.  He is a Christian man and always helps me to remember to put God first in everything. 

November 11th:  I am thankful for my friend and babysitter, Rachel.  I am so thankful that while Nick and I work we can leave him at such a great place.  Rachel is so good with River and really takes excellent care of him.  I don't have to worry while he is with her.  Benjamin, Claira, and Macy are also blessings in our lives and River loves them, too.  Rachel is a wonderful friend and I am so thankful for her and her family.

November 12th:  I am thankful for my transportation.  It is so nice to have a reliable vehicle and to be able to go places when I want to.  

November 13th:  Continuing from November 11th - I am thankful for all the caregivers that we have for River.  My parents, Nick's parents, grandparents, aunts, and cousins have all pitched in to take care of River.  I want River to love all his family and we are so blessed that so many of them want to keep him and spend time with him.  It is so great that we have such wonderful people to help us raise our son while we are at work.  

Pictures

Sitting up like a big boy!

Sleeping so good and cuddling with his cow blankie!

Sweet! :)

So another weekend is gone and it's back to work tomorrow. 

River is sitting up!

Today I worked all day from 8-7.  It is such a long day and I am glad that I don't have too many of them.  I really enjoy working 30 hours a week.  The 10 hours that I cut back on really makes a big difference. 

River stayed with Rachel today.  It has been about a week since she's seen River and she said she couldn't believe how big he looked.  For about the past week, he has been getting a lot better at sitting on his own.  This is a picture that Rachel sent me from today.  He is playing with the big kids and doesn't look like a "baby".  He looks so big sitting there playing the game with the girls.  Claira and Macy are so good to River.  I think they will all grow up to be great friends!

Thankful:

November 7th:  I am thankful for my home.  I have a place to come and relax after a long day and a place where I can enjoy my family. 

Wow! What a Weekend!

Well, where do I begin with all that has happened since the last time I blogged.  We had such a busy and wonderful weekend!  First, it started out on Friday with me taking River to see his pediatrician.  Nana and Pap kept him on Thursday night and I picked him up Friday morning.  Nana said that he had had a little bit of a rough night.  He had been pulling on his ear and had a lot of sinus congestion, but had not been running a fever.  She said that he just wasn't acting like himself and had been crying more than usual.  We have been battling this sinus congestion for almost 2 weeks now.  He has had so much trouble breathing and it's hard for him to take a bottle and it interrupts his sleep.  So I decided to go ahead and take him in to see his doctor just to see if anything was wrong.  Dr. Nesmith said his ears looked good and his lungs sounded good, so that was all great news.  They also tested him for Strep, which was negative.  Everything was normal and Dr. Nesmith said that it's probably just a virus.  River's 6 month appointment was scheduled for next week and he turned 6 months last Thursday, so I asked if we could go ahead and get his shots and do his 6 month well-check, since we were already there.  River got 4 shots and he weighed 16.9 lbs.  He is in the 95th percentile for his height and the 50th percentile for his weight.  Dr. Nesmith said he looked great and sent us on our way! River still didn't feel very good Saturday, but he felt great on Sunday!

Friday afternoon, Jolie picked River and I up in Teague and took us to Whitney on her way through.  Nick had to go to College Station for a judging contest on Saturday morning, so River and I went ahead and went to Whitney.  Nick met us there Saturday afternoon.  This weekend was opening day of deer season, so of course everyone came in to do a little deer hunting.  Saturday we spent the day with family and eating great food!  I also brought River's lion costume for everyone in Whitney to see. 

While we were there, Ma Ma gave River a bath in the big bathtub.  River loved it!!  She also had some toy frogs that she put in the water with him and he thought they were great!  At first, he didn't really know what to think about them, but he soon thought they were neat!

Saturday evening, when Nick got to Whitney, we took River on his first deer hunting trip!  Ma Ma, Pa Pa, Nick, River, and I all sat in the big deer stand.  We didn't see anything, but we had a good time talking and playing with River.  He was quiet for the most part, until the end when he starting getting sleepy.

Sunday, Nick and I went to a Dallas Cowboy football game!  What an awesome experience!  Nick bought tickets for me for my birthday.  Ma Ma kept River while we went to the game and they had a great time together!  I really enjoyed the game and had so much fun with Nick.  It was really nice to get to spend some time with him.  The Cowboys Stadium is definitely something to see.  It is huge!  We sat on the top tier, but on the 50 yard line.  We had great seats!  The Cowboys won and we really enjoyed the game and "people watching"! :)

Thankful (a little behind!)

November 3rd: I am thankful for my son, River.  He is such a blessing and a joy.  He is healthy and happy and he brightens my day everyday. I am thankful that I get to be his Mommy and watch him grow!  I love him very very much!

November 4th:  I am so thankful for my parents.  My Mom and Dad are so wonderful!  They are the best parents.  They love me unconditionally and support me in everything I do.  My Mom is one of my best friends.  We usually talk twice a day!  My parents are hard workers and always provided the best for me.  I love them so much!!

November 5th:  I am thankful for my family.  My family is so loving, caring, and fun!  I am also thankful for the family that I have gained through marrying Nick.  They have taken me in like their own and I am very appreciative of them!

November 6th:  I am thankful for my friends.  Wow!  I have some wonderful friends.  My friends have been there through the good times and bad and have loved and supported me through it all.  I have made great friends everywhere I have lived and I am thankful for each and every one of them!

Just a few pictures from today

Enjoyed the Day

Meant to post this last night! :)

Today I was off work and I got to spend my day with my two favorite guys. Nick had to make a trip to Sam's in Waco to get a few things for a program he is having tomorrow night, so River and I rode with him. When we got back to Waco, River and I had lunch with Nick. Nick had to work the afternoon, so River and I came home and played. My house cleaner, Maria, came this morning. It is sooooo nice to walk in to a clean house!

This afternoon I figured out what we will all wear for our Christmas pictures. Rachel is taking them next week. I ordered River a new shirt and some real blue jeans. So we played dress-up this afternoon. He looked so handsome and big in his new outfit. I'm not going to post any pics though, because I want it to be a surprise for the Christmas card!

November 2nd: I am extremely thankful for my husband. He loves his family so much. He is honest, loving, and puts others before himself. He is a Christian man, hard worker, and a wonderful father. I am so thankful that River has a daddy like Nick to look up to. We have been married for over 5 years now and I love him so much!

Pictures from Today

River with Mrs. Jamie at Nick's Work

Happy Halloween and Happy November!

Well, I didn't get to write last night because yesterday was a very busy day.  I worked until 5 and then as soon as I got off, I picked up River from Rachel's and headed home to get our little man ready to "trick-or-treat"!  Nick, River, and I went with Benjamin, Rachel, Claira, and Macy.  We went to about 10 different houses (all people that we go to church with).  We dressed River as a roaring lion.  He has been roaring/growling for about a month now.  When he gets started he just doesn't stop!  Ma Ma suggested he be a lion (because of his roaring and because Teague's mascot is a lion) and Nick and I thought that was a great idea.  After some searching, I ordered his costume from diapers.com.  The first time we put it on him was at Nana and Pap's house about a week and a half ago.  The whole time he had it on he sat very still and just watched everyone ooh and ah over him.  

Trick-or-Treating at Nana and Pap's

 Well, as soon as we put his costume on last night, he got very quiet and very still again.  His expression was like "Mom, are you seriously going to make me wear this thing all night?".  

Finally, after a few houses, he started acting like River again.  When we stopped at the Steele's house, Mrs. Karen was holding him and we were all talking.  Out of nowhere, he started his roaring.  It was so cute!  Rachel said he had been practicing his roaring ALL day long yesterday.  At Mrs. Ruthann's house, River really dug into the candy bowl.

Claira and Macy were dressed so cute, too.  All in all, we had a really great time and made some great memories for River's first Halloween.  River is going to trick-or-treat at Ma Ma and Pa Pa's this weekend.

More Pictures from Yesterday

 

I worked again today.  This was my 5th day in a row and I am definitely ready for a day off with River.  I am off tomorrow and looking forward to that.  Rachel said that River was roaring again today and that he was a good boy.  Nick and I are so thankful to have Benjamin and Rachel to watch River while we work. We appreciate them so much!  

Pictures from Today

From Rachel - Her caption read "This is what I think about squash today, Mom."

I think that this is one of the cutest faces I have seen him make!  I love it!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!

30 Days of Recognizing What We Are Thankful For (Idea from Brittney Hejl) - 30 days in the month of November, a time when we speak of things we are thankful for

November 1st:  I am most thankful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for the sacrifice he made for all and I am also thankful for my relationship with Him